The Relief of Mafeking.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 4055, 22 May 1900, Page 2

The Relief of Mafeking.

Celebrations in Waipawa,

When the news that Mafeking had been relieved was officially confirmed on Saturday' afternoon, business was entirely suspended, and there were sounds of revelry during the day and night. For about two hours in the afternoon bells were pealed and every imaginable noisy sound was made. Cyclists paraded the streets ringing bells. Impromptu bands were formed, in which bells and gongs were the instruments, and grave and reverend seignors, staid, sober and respectable citizens gave vent to their pent up feelings by shouting, singing and beating lustily sheets of iron or anything that would make a noise. Discord held high revel for a time, for everyone was too excited to talk rationally. Later in the day, when the crowd had given vent to its feelings the good news was discussed more rationally and many were the healths toasted to BadenPowell and his gallant band of defenders. Mr James Williams, Chairman of the Town Board, Captain Rathbone, of the Waipawa Volunteers, Mr W. Nicholson, Mr A. E. Jones, Mrs A. E. Eames and others then set about arranging a programme for the evening, to fittingly celebrate the event.

Shortly after 7 o’clock a great crowd began to assemble in the streets and it was at once seen that the townsfolk intended to hold high carnival. Mr Bibby’s store was brilliantly lighted with a number of candles in every window and formed a striking spectacle. The windows of the Mail office were illuminated, Mr Nash’s establishment shone out distinctly with a number of acetylene gas burners blazing, and over Mr M. Moroney’s repository were many qolored Chinese lanterns burning. Every window in the Commercial hotel was lighted up to do honor to the occasion. All the shops in Great North Road were illuminated. Mr Collett’s store was resplendent with acetylene gas and so was Mr Symons’s establishment. Mr Rathbone’s premises were also brilliant. Mogridge’s stationery depot and Mrs Ferguson’s shop were gay with lights and Mr T. F. Moore laid himself out for the occasion. From the balcony of his shop he burned colored lights, which had a striking effect. Lower down, Mr Sinclair had his premises ablaze with light and Mr Britten had a long row of Chinese lanterns hung under his verandah. Mr Flynn’s shop was also illuminated by means of Chinese lanterns. In the windows of Mr Standley’s office was a picture of BadenPowell encircled by a laurel wreath. Mr S. Johnson’s windows were also alight. Just below this Mr Frank Shanly had erected a stand, from which several acetylene gas burners shed a brilliant light across the road and on the adjoining paddock. About 8 o’clock the procession farmed up in front of the Public Library and the crowd began surging in that direction. Mr W. T. Limbrick, who carried a huge Japanese umbrella, came first, accompanied by a dusky beauty in fantastic attire, and they were followed by the Waipawa Brass Band and the local volqntoers. Then came tho Fire Brigade, whose engine was suitably decorated, the Cycling Club, the members of which had their machines hung with many colored lanterns, the school children,

“ the irregulars,” armed with all kinds of guns, and clad in uniforms to suit the taste of tho woarers, and a number of prominent citizens brought up the rear. The band struck up “ Soldiers of the Queen ” and tho line moved round the corner into the Great North Road, whore tho scene was an impressive one. The crowd cheered, colored lights were burned from the fire brigade engine and

Mr Moore’s balcony and everything went*as merry as a marriage bell until the front of the post office was reached, when the horses drawing tho ongine betrayed the fact that they were not accustomed to war’s alarms, for they plunged and broke away from the vehicle. They were replaced by a number of onlookers, who drew the engine on. The procession wended its way past the Imperial hotel, which was lighted up and returned to town, when the volunteers were put through a number of evolutions and rockets were discharged. Some volley firing was indulged in, in which the “ irregulars ” played a conspicuous part. Mr James Williams then mounted the engine and made a brief but stirring speech, in which lie alluded to the military genius of Lord Roberts, the

heroic defence of Mafeking and th» endurance and courage of Baden-Powell and his gallant band who had kept the flag flying for so many months. Choen wore given for the Queen, Lord Robert*, and Baden-Powell and the band played a selection and rockets were fired. A move was then made to Britten’*, and Mr James Cosgrove appeared at the window and sang “ Soldiers of the Queen,” the chorus being taken up with groat spirit by the, large audience. Mr A. E. Jull then stepped forward and read a telegram sent by the Hon, J. G. Ward to the Chairman of the Wai. pawa County Council, announcing the glad tidings of the relief of Mafeking, and containing the text of a cablegram he had despatched to Colonel Baden. Powell. Mr Jull also read a telegram sent by Mr Ward to the Chairman of the School Committee, stating that * holiday would be granted on Monday, to all schools in the colony, in honor of the event. This announcement was received with loud and continuous cheering by ah the children present. Mr Jull said that they had all anxiously awaited confirmation of the news of the relief of Mafoking, which had first come through Boer sources, and he was glad to find that the information was correct Throughout the English-speaking world the siege of Mafeking would ever bo remembered for the gallantry of it* defenders and the stubborn resistance they had made in tho face of overwhelm, ing odds. The Boers were going to swallow up little Mafeking, but it put him in mind of the lines of William Shakespeare, or if they were not Shakespeare’s words, they should have beon : •

There was a young lady of Niger, Who smiled as she rode on a tiger But at the end of the ride, the gifi was inside And the smile on the face of the tiger. Mr Bawden then sang “ The Red, White, and Blue,” and the crowd joined in the chorps. More fireworks were discharged and the band played * selection. During the interval the “ irregulars ” fired a feu de joie and the bellringers gave selections in an erratic fashion. Mrs A. E Eames contiibuted “ Rule Britannia ” and the ohorm by the onlookers could be heard for a great distance. The band again struck up, more fireworki were let off, the “ irregulars ” discharged volleyß at random, the crowd cheered and then Mr A. E. Eames sang “Soni of the Sea,” the spectators joining j* with great vigor. Rockets were let off, an effigy of Kruger was burned, the band played “Auld Lang Syne" and thus ended a scene that is not likely to be forgotten in this district for raanj years.